System of regulating steam-boilers.



Patented lune I8, |9|Dl.

R. H. WHITE.

SYSTEM 0F REGULATING STEAM BOILERS.

(Application led July 5, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheev-Sh'eet l.

@ gwn? No. 676,790. Patented lune I8, |901. R. H. WHITE.

SYSTEM 0F BEGULATING STEAM BOILEBS.

(Appleation led July 5, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Nirnn Stains naar reifen..

ROLLIN II. WHITE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE XVIHTE SEWINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SYSTEM OF RE-GULATING STEAM-i-BOILERS.

SPEGTFTCATKGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,790, dated T une18, 1901.

Application liled .Tilly 5, 1900. Serial No. 22,486. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ROLLIN H. WHITE, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Systems of RegulatingSteam-Boilers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates solely to steam-generators'of the liasher type,which have the capacity of su perheating the steam which they generateand in which, therefore, the temperature and the pressure of the steamat the point where it is discharged from the generator bear no uniformrelationship to each other. For example, the steam-pressure in such agenerator may be anything from approximately zero up to the capacity ofthe generator, while at the saine time its temperatureat thedelivery-point may be substantially the steam-table equivalent of thethen-existing pressure or anything above it.

The object of this invention is to automatically control the generationand superheating of steam in a flasher, to the end that said generatormay automatically generate and prepare for delivery to an enginesuperheated steam at substantially uniform pressure and artificialtemperature and to accomplish this result regardless of the varyingdemands upon the generator for steam. It is not of course possible toprevent some variations in the pressure and temperature of the steam. Infact, the operation of the invention depends upon such variations. TWhatthe invention actually Aaccomplishes is the speedy restoration of thedesired pressure and temperature, and it attains this result byautomatically correlating the quantities of water and fuel concurrentlyfed to the generator and burner, respectively, for immediate conjointuse in the production of the superheated steam.

Another object attained by the invention is the prevention of injury tothe iiasher by overheating it or by creating excessive steampressuretherein.

The ultimate object is to provide a steam generator for supplying anengine adapted to be safely operated by persons relatively unskilled inthe use of machinery, which will automatically and with the maximum ofecon omy of water and fuel prepare for delivery to the engine anadequate supply of superheated steam in what may be called the ideal7condition with respect to its temperature and pressure, meaning thecondition in which the steam may be most economically and efficientlyused. lSuch 'generators are of prime utility on steam-automobiles, whichare commonly operated by relatively unskilled persons and whereon thesupplies of water and of the combustible are limited. It is, however,useful i`n many other situations, which need not be here enumerated.This resultthis automatic actionis attained by combining with a iiashertwo regulating devices respectively controlling the supply of the twosubstances, which by their consumption coact to produce superheatedsteam.-viz., water and combustible-which regulating devices are causedto operate interdependently by the steam itself, (or, more speciically,by those two characteristics of the steam which the regulator devices bytheir coordinated and interdependent action maintain or restore,)whereby said water and combustible are automatically supplied inproperly-correlated quantities to eiect the desired result and are sosupplied however much or in whatever particulars the condition ofthesteam with respect to its pressure or tem perature,or both, may havebeen temporarily varied from the ideal condition. These two regulatorde- .vices do not necessarily operate simultavices which form apart ofthis invention do, however, act interdependently through the IOOgenerator and the steam therein to automatically increase or decreasethe supply of water to the generator or the supply of combustible to theburner which heats the generator, or of both, as the then existingconditions require, whereby the water and heat are properly proportionedto bring about the desired result-viz., the maintenance, so far aspossible, of the existing temperature and pressure of the steam in thegenerator or the speedy restoration ot' the steam therein to its idealcondition with respect to its temperature and the pressure.

The invention therefore consists, broadly, in the combination, with asteam-generator of the flasher type, of a regulator device for thewater-supply controlled by the pressure of the steam in the generatorand a regulator for the fuel-supply controlled by the temperature of thesteam in the generator, which parts coact,l as stated, to produce theresult sought.

The invention also consists in the more specific combination of part-s,as recited in the claims.

lhe drawings show my system of regulation applied specifically to anautomobile.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my invention so embodied, theautomobile body and wheels being shownin dotted lines; and Fig. 2 isaplan thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical central section of thethermostatic regulator; and Fig. et is an end view thereof, partly insect-ion. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of the pressure-regulatorfor the Watersupply.

The particular construction ofthermostatic regulator for the fuel andpressure-regulator for the water is immaterial to the present broadinvention. The forms in which I have herein illustrated 'these featuresare shown, described, and claimed in my prior applications,Serial No.11,311, filed April 3, 1900, and Serial No. 223, tiled January 3, 1900,respeetively.

Referringr irst to Figs. 1 and 2, A represents the boiler, formed of acontinuous coil.

of pipe and inclosed in suitable casing d. The coils shown are plainspirals one above the other and connected together in series. Vater isforced into the upper coil and progressively through the coils towardthe lower coil, from which the steam is delivered, and the water isvaporized or flashed into steam at some `points in the coils when theheat of the water and the pressure of the steam already formed areproperly correlated. Steam-generators of this type belong to the classwhich are known as flash-boilers, which class includesthose where thewater is iiashed into steam immediately it enters the boiler, as well asthose, like the one shown, wherethe water is flashed into steam after ithas traveled some distance in the boiler-tubes toward the steam-deliveryend. Flash-boilers as the term is used hereinis a generic inclusive ofsteam-boilers having the mode of action described and having no drum orits equivalent for containing boiling water at a substantially constantwater-level. The invention relates to boilers of this class, but not toany particular construction of such boilers.

B represents the water-tank, which may be conveniently formed topartially embrace the boiler, as shown.

C represents the steam-engine for driving the vehicle, and D a pumppumping the water from the tank to the boiler. This pump is shown asconsisting simply of a cylinder with a plunger which is reciprocated bya pivoted lever d, actuated directly by the cross-head c of the engine,the check-valves of the pump being shown in the piping, as hereinafterexplained.

E represents an air-chamber; F, the Waterregulator; G, the tank forcontaining hydrocarbon fuel; H, the burner, the valve, and J thethermostatic regulator for the fuel.

The piping connecting th'e various parts referred to is as follows: Thepipe designated l leads from the watertank through the .check-valve 2 tothe pump and also by a branch 3 to the regulator 'F. The pipe t leadsfrom the pump through the check-valve 5 to the pipe 6,which leads intothe entrance end of the boiler. The steam `end of the boiler leads outthrough the pipe 7, which divides and passes by the pipe S to theregulator F and by the pipes 9 and 10 through the throttle-valve l1 tothe engine. A safetyvalve l2 and a steam-gage 13 are shown leading fromthis pipe 11. The pipe 14 conveys exhaust-steam from the engine. A pipe15 leads from the regulator F to the pipe 4 and is adapted to beconnected by the regulator (when the steam-pressure is excessive) withthe pipe 3, thus establishing` a by-pass around the pump. A pipe 1Gleads from the tank G over the burner H (for vaporization) to t ehydrocarbon-valve K, which adjoins the thermostatic regulator J. Thisvalve K is shown as a suitable casing mechanically governed by thescrew-threaded needle-rod 7n.

In normal operation when the machine is running water is pumped throughthe pipe l, the pump-cylinder, the pipe 4, the valves 2 and 5, (whichvalves each open toward the boiler and may be considered as constitutingpart of the pump,) and through the pipe G to the boiler, where it passescontinuously through the coils of the boiler to the pipe 7, beingconverted into superheated steam during this passage by the hydrocarbonfrom the tank G, burned at the burner H.' From the pipe 7 the steampasses to the engine C, being governed by the throttle-valve 11. This isthe operation when the hydrocarbon fed to the burner is no more thansufficient to superheat the steam to the required amount and all thesteam being generated is used in the engine. When more steam isgenerated than used in the engine, the pressure in the boiler IOO IIO

IZO

increases, and when it reaches the maximum the regulator F operates toopen the by-pass and prevent the admission of further water until thepressure decreases. This operation is accomplished as follows: Thepressure-regulator F is shown in Fig. 5. lt consists of a casingf,having a cap f', between which is a diaphragm f2.V The steam-pressurethrough the pipe 8 acting on this diaphragm tends to force downward thehead f3 on its under side, carried on the stemfl, on the other end ofwhich stem is a conical valve f5, seating in a recess f5 in the casing.This valve is normally held against its seat by a springf, surroundingthe stemf4 within the recess f8 of the casing and bearing at one endagainst the base of that recess and the other against the head f3. Thepipe 15 connects the recess f6 with the pipe et, leading from the pumpto the check-valve 5, while the pipe 3 leads into the recess f8.Normally7 the spring fT maintains the valve f5 on its seat, keepingpipes 3 and l5 disconnected. Vhen, however, the steampressure reaches apredetermined maximum, it acts downward on the diaphragm f2, forcing thevalve away from its seat and connecting together the two recesses f6tofs, and thus connecting the pipes 15 and 3. VThen this operation takesplace, the pump operates idly, moving water in the pipes 4, l5, and 3without pumping water to the boiler, the check-valve 5 preventing thewater in the boiler from flowing backward. Thus whenever the pressure inthe boiler reaches a predetermined maximum (sufcient to overcome thepressure of the spring f7 and the waterpressure on the head of the valvef5) the water is shut off and continues shut off until the boilerpressure decreases to less than the spring-pressure.

The thermostatic regulator J operates to cut oft the fuel-supply whenthe heat of the steam reaches a predetermined maximum. This regulator',as shown, includes a tubular casingj, which forms the connection betweenthe lowest and the next to the lowest coils in the boiler, so that thesteam is always flowing through this casing. At one end the casing isclosed by a capj and at the other end by the head f. YWithin the casingand secured to this head is the tube j, closed at its outer end andpreferably of copper, while within this tnbej3 is the rod j4, of iron orsteel. Secured to the head jz is a casingj, in which is pivoted thebell-crank j, against which the rodjl may abut. The casingj5 leads by atubular opening j? to the burner H, while into this opening is a passage7s from the casing K, containing the main needle-valve 7u.

Vithin the tubular opening j? is a rodjs, having a reduced lower endextending below the passage 7.5' and adapted to close or vary theopening to the burner, thus constituting a valve for the hydrocarbon. Onthe upper end of this rod ja are adjustable nuts j, which form ashoulder bearing on the upper edge of the bell-cranky, wherefore thebell-crank supports this rodjs.

When the thermostat is not regulating the fuel, the rod js is above theopening 7u and the hydrocarbon flows to the burner. Now the tube beingmade of material of relatively high expansibility, as copper, and therod jl of relatively less expansibility, as steel, when the two areheated by the steam the 'end of the tube 7'3 will draw back from thebell-crank lever j more than the rod )"1 will expand in length,wherefore the rod will be moved backward from the bell-crank lever andthe latter will allow the rod js to descend, partially or wholly closingthe opening to the burner. This is what takes place when the temperatureof the steam reaches a predetermiu ed amount, the hydrocarbon beinggradually turned ott as the steam approaches a maximum. It ivill thus beseen that as soon as less steam is used less is generated, whilewhatever steam is generated is maintained at the proper degree ofsuperheat, thus securing a very economical operation, as well asaccomplishing the other objects heretofore set out.

Having described my invention, l claim-- l. The combination of asteam-generator of the flasher type with a regulator for the fuel-supplygoverned by the temperature of the steam in said generator and aregulator for the water-supply governed by the pressure of steam in saidgenerator, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

2. The combination of a steam-generator of the flasher type, a burnerfor heating the same, means for supplying fuel to the burner, means forsupplying water to the generator, a thermostatic regulator for governingthe fuel-supply which regulator is inclosed in the generator, and aregulator for governing the water-suppl y which regulator is conne-ctedwith the generator and operated by the steam-pressure therein,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of a steam-generator of the flasher type, awater-tank, means for forcing the water from the tank to thesteamgenerator, a hydrocarbon-burner for heating the steam-generator, atank for containing hydrocarbon connected with the burner, athermostatic regulator and a pressure-regulator connected with thesteam-generator, the thermostatic regulator governing the supply ofhydrocarbon from its tank to the burner and the pressure-regulatorgoverning the su pply of water from its tank to the boiler, subystantially as described.

et. A steam-generator of the flasher type, a supply-tank adapted tocontain water therefor, a pump adapted to force water from the tank tothe steam generator, a normally closed by-pass leading-around the pump,which when opened. allows the pump to operate without feeding thesteam-generator, a pressure-regulator for controlling said by- IOC IIO

pass and connected with the steam-generator and operated by thesteam-pressure therein, a burner for a fluid fuel for saidsteam-generator, and a thermostato regulator conneot- I ed with thesteaIn-generatorand operating to i Vbnesses:

signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROLLIN H. WHITE.v

govern the flow of fuel to said burner, sub- E. L. THURSTON, stantiallyas described. E. B. GILCHRIST.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alx my l

